System Architecture

Comprehensive overview of the system architecture including layers, design principles, data flow, services, and monitoring.

System Architecture

Welcome to the comprehensive system architecture documentation. This section provides detailed insights into how the system is designed, organized, and operates.

Architecture Overview

The system follows a modern, layered architecture pattern using Next.js with the App Router, providing both server-side and client-side capabilities. Built on a foundation of TypeScript, React, and Supabase, it emphasizes maintainability, scalability, and developer experience.

Key Architectural Characteristics

  • Layered Architecture: Clear separation between presentation, business logic, and data layers
  • Type Safety: End-to-end TypeScript for reliability and developer productivity
  • Security First: Built-in security at every architectural level
  • Performance Optimized: Multiple strategies for optimal application performance
  • Scalable Design: Architecture that grows with your needs

Core Architecture Components

Architecture Layers

Detailed breakdown of the system's layered structure:

  • Client Layer: React components, state management, and user interactions
  • Application Layer: Server components, API routes, and business logic
  • Data Layer: Supabase integration, PostgreSQL, and real-time subscriptions
  • Layer Communication: How data flows between architectural layers

Design Principles

Fundamental principles that guide architectural decisions:

  • Separation of Concerns: Clear responsibility boundaries
  • Type Safety: End-to-end type checking and validation
  • Security First: Defense in depth security strategy
  • Performance Optimization: Multiple performance enhancement strategies
  • Scalability: Horizontal and vertical scaling considerations

Data Flow Architecture

Comprehensive data movement and communication patterns:

  • Request/Response Flow: Standard HTTP request processing
  • Real-time Data Flow: WebSocket connections and live updates
  • Service Communication: Inter-service communication patterns
  • Data Flow Monitoring: Observability and performance tracking

Service Architecture

Service organization and business logic structure:

  • Service Organization: Core, supporting, and infrastructure services
  • Core Services: ProductService, InventoryService, OrderService
  • Service Communication: Direct calls, events, and async patterns
  • Service Monitoring: Health checks and performance metrics

Error Handling & Monitoring

Robust error handling and comprehensive monitoring:

  • Error Classification: System, business, and user error types
  • Client-Side Handling: React error boundaries and global handlers
  • Server-Side Handling: API error middleware and service patterns
  • Monitoring & Observability: Logging, metrics, and health checks

Quick Architecture Reference

Technology Stack

// Core Technologies
const techStack = {
  frontend: ['React 18', 'Next.js App Router', 'TypeScript'],
  styling: ['Tailwind CSS', 'shadcn/ui'],
  backend: ['Next.js API Routes', 'Server Actions', 'Server Components'],
  database: ['Supabase', 'PostgreSQL', 'Row Level Security'],
  realtime: ['Supabase Realtime', 'WebSocket'],
  deployment: ['Vercel', 'Edge Functions']
}

Architecture Patterns

  • Layered Architecture: Clear separation of concerns across layers
  • Service-Oriented: Modular service design for business logic
  • Event-Driven: Real-time updates and loose coupling
  • Repository Pattern: Data access abstraction
  • CQRS Elements: Separate read/write operations where beneficial

Security Architecture

  • Authentication: Supabase Auth with JWT tokens
  • Authorization: Role-based access control (RBAC)
  • Data Security: Row Level Security (RLS) policies
  • API Security: Input validation and sanitization
  • Transport Security: HTTPS and secure headers

Implementation Examples

Typical Request Flow

graph TD
    A[User Request] --> B[Next.js Middleware]
    B --> C[Authentication Check]
    C --> D[Route Handler/Server Component]
    D --> E[Business Logic Service]
    E --> F[Data Validation]
    F --> G[Supabase Client]
    G --> H[PostgreSQL Database]
    H --> I[Response Processing]
    I --> J[Client Update]

Service Integration Pattern

// Example service integration
export class OrderService {
  constructor(
    private productService: ProductService,
    private inventoryService: InventoryService,
    private customerService: CustomerService
  ) {}
  
  async createOrder(orderData: CreateOrderData): Promise<Order> {
    // Validate customer
    const customer = await this.customerService.getCustomer(orderData.customerId)
    
    // Check inventory availability
    await this.inventoryService.validateAvailability(orderData.items)
    
    // Process order creation
    const order = await this.processOrderCreation(orderData)
    
    // Reserve inventory
    await this.inventoryService.reserveStock(order.id, orderData.items)
    
    return order
  }
}

Architecture Benefits

Developer Experience

  • Type Safety: Catch errors at compile time
  • Code Organization: Clear structure and separation
  • Tooling Support: Excellent IDE integration
  • Testing: Testable architecture with clear boundaries

Performance

  • Server-Side Rendering: Fast initial page loads
  • Code Splitting: Optimized bundle sizes
  • Caching: Multi-level caching strategies
  • Real-time Updates: Efficient data synchronization

Scalability

  • Horizontal Scaling: Stateless design for easy replication
  • Vertical Scaling: Efficient resource utilization
  • Service Extraction: Ready for microservice migration
  • Database Scaling: Supabase automatic scaling

Reliability

  • Error Handling: Comprehensive error management
  • Monitoring: Full observability stack
  • Health Checks: System health monitoring
  • Graceful Degradation: Fault-tolerant design

Getting Started with Architecture

For Developers

  1. Understand the Layers: Start with Architecture Layers
  2. Learn the Principles: Review Design Principles
  3. Study Data Flow: Understand Data Flow Architecture
  4. Explore Services: Dive into Service Architecture

For System Administrators

  1. Monitoring Setup: Configure Error Handling & Monitoring
  2. Performance Tuning: Optimize based on architecture guidelines
  3. Security Configuration: Implement security best practices
  4. Scaling Strategies: Plan for growth using architectural patterns

For Architects

  1. Design Review: Evaluate current architecture decisions
  2. Evolution Planning: Plan architectural improvements
  3. Technology Adoption: Assess new technology integration
  4. Best Practices: Establish development standards

Complementary Architecture Docs

Operational Guides

This system architecture documentation provides the foundation for understanding, maintaining, and evolving the application. Each section builds upon the others to create a comprehensive view of the system design.